We have here a monitor an a couple of TV's, which all work perfectly well, but are surplus to requirements.
I'll try freecycle, but without much optimism... Am I right to lack optimism, or do people still have uses for these things?
If not, any other thoughts? Other than salvaging the wire to make generators or somesuch.

There is lots of useful stuff you can get from them but it depends on your outlook. Generally there is a ton of good copper etc found in them and many useful components too, but unless you tend to store that stuff to later sell in bulk it won't be worth your time to do.

Sadly most of the components are near useless to anyone who does not own or repair that sort of screen, and they are few and dropping by the day in numbers. No scrap company will give you anything so your best bet is likely the local skip and look for where the tvs go.

One thing to note though is there is almost no use you will be able to make safely from the tube itself as those things are lined with some rather unpleasant materials. If you are even slightly unsure about them your best bet is the skip. I tend to grab one now and again as the reams of copper wiring and magnets can come in handy but that is about all.

I tend to grab one now and again as the reams of copper wiring and magnets can come in handy but that is about all.

I'm glad I'm not the only one crazy enough to do that kind of thing, but I don't recall spotting any magnets in a TV.

Take the speakers apart depending on the quality of the speakers will tend to dictate the strength of the magnets. Quite often they tend to be rare earth types too as it was before they became buttons cheap to buy so they almost always have a fair wollop of pull.